Water-deaerating apparatus



Aug. 17 1926.

G. H. GIBSON WATER DEAERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Origin l Filed Dec. 19

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G. H. GIBSON WATER DEAERATING APPARATUS Original Filed 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/- I I] F I2 IA J INVENTOR M a/Wee ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1926 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. GIBSON, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB '10 COCHRANE COB- PORATION, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A.GORPORATION F PENNSYL- VANIA.

WATER-DEAERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 19, 1921, Serial No. 528,545. Renewed April 11, 1924.

The general object of the present invenin open feed water heaters. As shown each tion is to provide improved apparatus for tray C is provided adjacent its lower end w eliminating air from water without requir with a steam inlet port 0, and the bottom ing the water to be heated above a maximum of the'tray is provided with ports through temperature which is substantially below which the water passing onto thetray may 212, and which will permit of utilization fall in a multiplicity of relatively small of exhaust steam available for the purpose streams. Each tray C is formed with flanges in restricted and variable amount, though C which support the tray above it at the the invention in its broader aspects is not proper angle. Mounted on top of the tray restricted to the use of exhaust steam but box C is a water distributing box C receiv may be carried out with live steam. ing water as hereinafter described through The invention was primarily devised for, two supply pipes D and E. The water thus 65 and is of especial utility in treatin boiler supplied to the tray box overflows along the feed water which is to be preheate in an side G of the box on to the uppermost economizer before being passed into the tray C.

boiler, and where the steamy available for Steam for scrubbing the water and freeuse is ordinarily insufficient to heat the waing it from air is injected .into the water in ter to a temperature of 212. the compartment A through a manifold F The various features of novelty which comprising, in the form shown, a main pipe characterize my invention are pointed out extending horizontally into the chamber A with particularity in the claims annexed near the bottom of the latter, and numerous to and forming a part of this specification. small lateral distributing pipes F, each of m For a better understanding of the invention, the latter being formed wlth a multiplicity however, and its advantages, reference of discharge orifices. The manifold F is 2 should be had to the accompanying drawlocated well below the normal water level ings and descriptive matter in which I have in the compartment A In addition to supillustrated preferred forms of apparatus. plying steam to the deaerating chamber Of the drawings: through the manifold F, steam ma advan- Fig. 1 is an elevation in section of one tageously, though not necessarily, be intro form of deaerating apparatus; duced into the compartment A above the Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic-elevation taken water level therein, and in the apparatus at right angles to Fig. 1; shown in the drawings, steam is thus in- Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line troduced into the compartment A through 3-3 of Fig. 1; an atomizer pipe G, and also through an in- Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of let A". The atomizer ipe G is shown as a system in which the apparatus of Figs. 1,2, horizontally dis osed elow the tray box and 3, is associated with'a heat exchanger; C and is forme with a pluralit of small and discharge orifices at one side. The water Fig. 5 is an elevation in section of. a moddripping from thelowermost of the trays G ified form of deaerating apparatus. is carried on to the top of the atomizer pipe In the drawings, and referring first to the G b a bafile or drain board C.

construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, A repre- The steam used for scrubbing the water 9 sents a scrubbing and deaerating chamber may be live steam or exhaust steam from any which is shown as a tank divided into upper suitable or available source, but as shown 45 and lower compartments A and A respecthis steam is supplied from an exhaust pipetively, by a partition B. Mounted on the H in which it is desirable to maintain a partition B is a tray box C having closed pressure above that of the atmosphere to sides but open at its lower end, through an prevent air leakage into the pipe H and into opening B formed in the partition B, to the a paratus from which this pipe leads,

50. the compartment A and open at its upper and or this purpose an automatic flow end to the compartment A. Mounted in the valve I is'interposed between the pipe H and tray box C are a series of oppositely inthe deaerating chamber A. As shown the 105 clined trays C, such as are commonly used valve I comprises a valve body divided by chamber 1 outer ends of the pistons i suitable partitions into an inlet chamber and two outlet chambers 2' and in connected to the inlet'chambers by ports I and 1 respectively. The ports I, of which there are two in the construction shown, are controlled each by a corresponding valve disc 1 Associatedwith each of the valve discs I is a corresponding piston it working in a piston which is open at its outer end to the atmosphere and is open at its inner end to the chamber 2".

At the outer end of each piston chamber 1 a stop I is provided limiting the outward movement of the piston. Each valve disc I and corresponding piston l are free to move apart to the extent necessary to permit the valve disc to seat and close the corresponding port I while the piston is in engagement with the stop l The relative movement of approach of each valve disc 1 and the corresponding piston 1 is limited, however, so that a sufficient inward move-- ment of the piston causes the valve disc to seat and close the port controlled by it. In

" the'construction shown each valve disc I is formed with a stem 1 which is telcscopically received in a socket I carried by the corresponding piston and the movement oat approach of each valve disc and the corresponding piston is limited by the engagement of the valve stem I with the bottom of the socket 1 The pistons l are the same diameter as the valve discs 1 An adjustable valve closing force is exerted on the valve discs I by springs I having their lower ends in engagement with the valve discs and having their upper ends engaged by a cross head l which may be raised and lowered by manipulation of a threaded spindle I in the normal condition of operation in which the pressure in the inlet chamber of the valve exceeds the pressure in the outlet chamber 2', fluctuations in the pressure in the outlet chamber 2', have no effect upon the movements of the valve discs I controlling the ports l,and these valve discs open and close accordingly as the pressure of the fluid in the inlet chamber of the valve exerts an opening force on the valve discs which is greater or less than the sum of the opposing forces due to the springs I and tothe pressure of the atmosphere acting against the In consequence the valve discs I contracting the ports I will open only when the pressure at which steam is supplied to the inlet chamber of the valve exceeds the pressure of the atmosphere by an amount fixed by the tension of the springs L Under this normal condition of operation the valve discs I and pistons l cooperate to control the ports I exactly as they would if the valve discs I were rigidly connected to the corresponding pistons 1'. Under abnormal conditions, however, in which the pressure in the outlet chamber 5 exceeds that in the inlet chamber of the valve, the separable connections between the pistons 1 and valve discs permit the latter to act as check valves and prevent back flow through the ports I of steam or water when the pressure in the chamber A exceeds the pressure in the steam supply pipe H as may occur from time to time.

The ports 1 are controlled by valve discs 1 and connections exactly similar to those described for controlling the ports I, but in practice as hereinafter explained the springs controlling the valve discs I for the ports I are maintained under greater tension than are the springs pertaining to the ports I.

The outlet chamber is opens directly to the chamber inlet A A pipe J connects the outlet chamber a to the manifold F through a branch pipe J and through a second branch pipe J? to the atomizer pipe G. Each of the branch pipes J and J is preferably provided with an'individual throttle valve K, and a non-return valve L is preferably provided in the branch J to prevent back flow of water into the chamber 2', in case a vacuum occurs therein greater than the vacuum in the deaerating chamber.

The steam supply pipe J may be connected directly to the manifold F but advantageously as shown I insert a steam ejector S in between the pipe J and manifold. The mixing chamber S of the ejector is connected to the interior of the tank A. above the water level in the latter by a pipe T. In consequence the steam passed into the manifold F comprises not only the steam supplied to the ejector S, but also steam drawn from the chamber A and repassed through the body of water in the lower portion of the chamber A. This recirculating of steam may be interrupted when desired by closing the valve T in the pipe T.

Air and vapor are withdrawn from the compartment A otthe dea'erating chamber through the outlet A located near the u per end of the compartment and connected y a pipe 0 to the exhausting device O, which as shown, is a steam ejector to which the .impelling steam is supplied through the pipe Q, The discharge pipe 0 from the ejector O passes into the condenser chamber N which as shown is mounted on top of the deaerating chamber A. Within the condenser the pipe 0 is formed with an upturned portion provided with lateral discharge orifices O. The condensing water is discharged into the condenser through a pipe E on to a water spreader P which, as shown, is in the form of a shallow box resting on top of the upturned end of the pipe and provided with perforations in its bottom through which the water falls in fine streams down past the discharge ports The water collecting in the bottom of the passing through condenser N is discharged from the latter into the trough C through the pipe E which has its upper end bent over to form a siphon, and includes a valve E. The latter is operated by a float E in the chamber N which opens and closes the valve as required to permit the discharge of water accumulating in the lower portion of the condenser N while preventing the free influx of air or vapor into the vdeaerating chamber through the pipe E.

The water supply pipe D is shown as but does not open to, the

condenser N so that the water passing into the deaerating chamber A through the pipe- D may absorb some heat from the condenser. Water is supplied to the condenser N through the pipe E and is directly supplied to the deaerating chamber A through the pipe D in response to the accumulation of water in the compartment A by float .5 and single iloat actuated valve mechanism adapted to insure an adequate supply of condensing water to the condenser N as well when the amount of water passing through the apparatus is relatively small, as when it is larger, and to prevent an unduly large amountof water from passing through the condenser N, when the demand is normal. For this purpose in the particular construction illustrated, separate control valve D and E are provided in the water supply supply lines D and E The valve D has its operating stem connected by the rod D to the crank arm of a rock shaft projecting through the wall of the compartment A and connected within the latter to a float DA. The operative arm of the valve E is similarly connected by a rod ll tothe rock shaft connected to a a float EA in the compartment A u The floats DA and EA are so arranged and connected to the control valves D and E, that the valve D will. be opened wide when the water in the compartment A falls to the level 1 and will be tightly closed when the water in the compartment A rises to or above the level 2, while the valve E will be wide open when the water in the compartment A is at, or below the level 3, and will be fully closed when the water in the compartment A rises to, or above the level 4. The controlling valve and float mechanism described is effective for accomplishing its purpose, but the same results can be obtained with a single control valve having two outlets one to the pipes E and one to the pipe movable between the and contemplated operation of the api s. l, 2, and 8 the compartment A will lie between i l 2 hen the demand for fold F and through wide open and the valve E will be partly open. WVith the throttle valves K both open, steam will pass into the water in the bottom of the compartment A through the manithe atomizer G and, provided the pressure in the pipe H is high enough, steam will also pass into the compartment A through the inlet A Steam should be supplied to the manifold F in such quantities that some or all of the steam will pass through the body of water in the bottom of the compartment A and will rise from the upper surface of this water. The steam passed into and not condensed in the compartment A eventually passes out of the compartment A into the tray box C, and the portion of the steam not condensed therein by contact with the water running over the tray plates passes out of the tray box into the compartment A. Vapor an air or other gases mixed with it are withdrawn from the compartment A through the outlet A by the ejector O which discharges into the condenser N. In the condenser N practically all of the steam and vapor discharged by the ejector are condensed. The air and gases separated from the steam and vapor by condensation of the latter in the condenser N escape from the condenser to the atmosphere through the vapor outlet In the scrubbing of the water in the deaerating chamber it will be observed that the steam and water act on the counter current principle. The water entering the deaerating chamber is first scrubbed by the steam in its passage down through the tray box and then after it falls into the pool in the bottom ot the compartment A Furthermore both in the pool and in the trays separately considered, the scrubbing proceeds on the counter flow principle. in consequence the steam discharged from the manifold F comes first into contact with water containing the least air or gas and then as it travels to the outlet A" is progressively in contact J a c I with water in which the air content progressively increases.

The scrubbing efiect obtained by forcing steam through the water when the latter is heated approximately to its final temperature {facilitates the elimination from the water of air which, under the temperature and pressure conditions prevailing in the apparatus, is no longer held in solution in the water. but is mechanically entrained therein. ch scrubbing l have found is practically essential in commercial tus to secure reasonably rapid to of deaeration under moderate temperature vacuum conditions. The recirculation of the steam which may be obtained the use of the injector augments the scrubbing action obtainable with a given amount of steam.

J fhen temperature of the water l ing water to economizers,

= constant at some value is relatively low and the vacuum correspondingly high, as conditions of operation make necessary in practice from time to time, it is apparently more difficult to remove the air from the water than when the temperature of the water is higher and the vacuum lower. This is due, I believe, to the fact that at the high vacuum a given weight of air occupies a larger volume than at the lower vacuum and forms a greater number of air bubbles. The higher vacuum tends, moreover, to increase the air infiltration through the shell of the heater and the pipe connections. The use of the preferential valve mechanism described insures an effective utilization of all the exhaust steam available for deaerating and heating the water, and my invention, in the form disclosed, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is a highly advantageous one where the exhaust steam is available in restricted amounts which vary independently of the volumetric demand for I deaerated Water.

Whereexhaust steam is available at all times in amounts equal to, or in excess of, the requirements for deaerating and heating the water treated, or where live steam is employed, the steam supply connections to the deaerating apparatus require no control valves, at least none other than ordinary throttle or stop valves, unless as in supplythe temperature at which the water leaving the deaerating apparatus should be kept approximately appreciably below 212 F. In any case, however, to avoid water hammer in starting the apparatus into operation, or in increasing the temperature maintained in the deaerating chamber, I may advantageously provide a special switch valve mechanism as shown in Fig. 4 for passing all of the steam into the deaerating chamber above the body of liquid therein until the water in the deaerating chamber is raised to the temperature of the steam introduced into the chamber, after which all, or the desired portion, of the steam for deaerating and heating the water may be introduced through the scrubbing pipe in the bottom of the deaerating chamber.

In Fig. 4: the valve I in Figs. 1 and 3 is replaced by a switch valve IA having one valve seated outlet I connected to the heater inlet A and another outlet I connected to the pipe J. A movable valve member I is provided with an operating handle I by means of which the valve member may be adjustedto close or throttle either of the outlets I and I or to throttle both as ma be desired.

ghere it is desirable, as in supplying water to a low temperature economizer section, to reduce the final delivery temperature of the water below that maintained in the deaerating chamber and at the same outlet Q. The water to be time minimize the heat requirements of the deaerating apparatus, I may advantageously use a heat exchangeras shown in Fig. 4 to transfer heat from the water leaving the deaerating chamber to the water passing to the deaerating chamber for treatment therein. As shown in Fig. 1 the heat exchanger Q is of the tubular type and comprises tubes Q through which the water leaving the deaerating chamber passes from the outlet A. After passing through the tubes Q the water passes away from the heat exchanger to the place of use throu h the exchanger into the intertube space of the heat exchanger through a supply connection R and is delivered from this space to the supply pipe D.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 5, the deaerating chamber AA employed, is provided in its upper portion with a series of trays CA on to which water is discharged from themain water supply pipe D and from the the condenser N. Steam is normally introduced into the deaerating chamber AA only through the manifold F and provisions are made for recirculating steam through the body of water in the lower portion of the 'deaerating chamber. For this purpose the inlet to the manifold F is connected to the outlet of an ejector S supplied with live or exhaust steam through the supply pipe HA. The mixing chamber of the ejector S is connected by a pipe T to the chamber AA above the water level in the latter as in Fig. 1. Steam is also suppliedto the air ejector 0 from the steam supply main HA.

In Fig. 5 a single float DE is connected by links D and E to the operating arms of the valve D and E and by providing a pin and slot connection as shown between the float DE and the link D it is possible to cause the valves D and E to open and close in response to the same variations in water level as bring about the opening and closing movements of these valves in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. -By closing the valve K and valve K steam may be passed into the upper portion of the deaerating chamber AA as required to heat the latter up in starting, or when the temperature in the deaerating chamber is to be increased without causing the water hammer which might result from the introduction of steam into the deaerating chamber through the manifold F at such times.

No claim is made herein to the combination with the deaerating apparatus of a heat exchanger as this combination is disclosed and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 411,232, filed September 18, 1920, and no claim is made herein on the switch valve mechanism shown in Fig. 5 as that mechanism is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 523,546

treated passes outlet E from filed of even date herewith. Certain other novel features of construction and arrangement disclosed but not claimed herein are also disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 523,547 filed of even date herewith, and in my prior application No. 460,389, filed April 11, 1921'.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthe forms of the invention disclosed fee without. departing from the spirit of my invention as set certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advan tage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

- 1. Apparatus for deaer'ating water comprising a closed chamber with air and water outlets, means for supplying water to the chamber at an upper level in amounts as required to maintain-a body of water in the chamber filling the latter to an approximately constant level below said upper level,

and means for supplying steam to the chamber comprising a loweristeam inlet opening to the chamber below the water level therein and an upper steam inlet opening to the chamber above said water level and a selective valve mechanism responsive to the pressure of the steam supplied and operative to cause all the steam supplied to the chamber to enter the latter through said lower inlet when the steam supply pressure is below a certain value and to cause'steam to enter the chamber through both inlets when the steam supply 1s at a higher pres sure.

2. Apparatus for deaerating and heating water comprising in combination a closed heating and eaerating chamber provided with air and ater outlets and-with a water spreader in its upper portion, means for introducing'water into the chamber over said water spreader in'amounts as required to maintain a body of water in the lower portion of said-chamber the level of which is below said spreader, means for injecting steam into the body of water, means for injecting steam in jets into said chamber below said spreader and above said body of water, and means for causing the water to "How in a film-like stream across the paths of said steam jets.

3. Apparatus for deaerating and heating water comprising incombination a closed heating and 'deaerating chamber provided with a water spreader in its upper portion and having air and water outlets, supplying water to said chamber over said Serial forth in the appended chamber,

water with means for spreader and in amounts as required to maintain a body of water in the lower portion "of the chamber below said spreader, means for discharging steam of water, means for discharging jets of steam across the path of the water falling from said spreader into said body of water, and sepprate means for supplying steam to the chamber above said body of water, all of said steam supplying means receiving steam from a common source, and means responsive to the pressure at which steam is supplied from said source tor preventing steam from entering the chamber through the last mentioned inlet except when the pressure at which the steam is supplied exceeds a predetermined value.

4. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising in combination a closed heating and deaerating chamber, a jet condenser, a steam jet exhauster for withdrawing air and vapor from said chamber and delivering it to said jet condenser, a water discharge from the condenser into said a water supply-connection to the condenser, a separate water supply connection to the chamber, means responsive to the amount of water in the chamber regulating the water supplied to the condenser andto the condenser through the separate water supply connection to the latter as required to maintain an approximately constant waterlevel in the chamber and operative to out off the separate supply of water to the chamber havmg a water outlet and. an air outlet, means for supplying water to be 'deacrated to said chamber to maintain a body of water therein partially filling the chamber, and means for scrubbing said steam including a steam ejector having its outlet connected to said chamber below the water level therein having its mixing chamber connected to tilt first mentioned chamber above the water 'level in the latter and means for supplying steam to the inlet of said ejector 6, Apparatus for deaerating and heating water comprising in combination a closed heating and deaerating chamber divided into upper and lower compartments, a conduit connecting said compartments, a set of water spreading trays or baffles in said conduit, means for introducing water into the lower compartment through said conduit in amounts as required to maintain a body of water in the lower portion of said compartment the level of which is below saidc'onduit, means for atomizing the water leaving said conduit means for discharging air from the upper coi'npartmer-it and a water outlet from the lower compartment 7. Apparatus for deaerati and heating water comprising in combination a closed heating and deaerating chamber divided into upper and lower compartments, a conduit connecting said compartments, a. set of water spreading trays or baiiies in said conduit, means for introducing water into the lower compartment through said conduit in amounts as required to ma etain a body of water in the lower portion. of said compartment the level of which is below said conduit, means for injecting steer into the body of water, a steam jet atomizer located between said conduit and said body of water and adapted to discharge steam jets across the path of the water leaving said conduit, means for discharging air from the upper compartment, and a water outlet from the lower compartment 8. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising in combination a; closed heating and deacrating chamber divided into upper and lower compartments having communication with one another for the passage of water from the upper compartmcnt into the lower compartment and for the passage of steam from the lower com partment into the upper compartment, means for introducing" water into the upper compartment as required. to maintain a body of water partially filling the lower compartment, means for discharging air from the upper QOIn1)2l1tineDt,'t water outlet from the lower compartment, means including a main steam supply connection to the lower compartment for therein scrubbing" the water entering the latter with. steam, means in the upper compartment for subjecting the water passing through the latter to the scrubbing action of the steam entering the upper compartment from the lower compartment, and a separate steam supply connection (for subjecting the water to a local heating action as it passes from the upper compartment into the lower chamber.)

9., Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising in combination upper and lower compartments having communicating provisions permitting the passage of water from the upper compartment into the lower seas compartment and the passage of steam from the lower compartment into the upper coinpartment but normally inefiective to pass steam or air from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, means for introducing water to be heated and deaerated into the upper-compartment, means for discharging air from the upper compartment, a water outlet from the lower compartment means including a main steam supply connection to the lower compartment for therein scrubbing the water with the major portion of the steam supplied to the apparatus, means for subjecting the water while in the upper compartment to the scrubbing action of the steam entering the upper compart ment from the lower compartment and means including a separate steam supply connection for effecting an intimate contact of the water with steam as the water passes from the upper compartment into the lower compartment.

10 Apparatus for heating and deaerat ins water comprising in combination upper and lower compartments having communicating provisions permitting the passage of water from the upper compartment into the lower compartment and the passage of steam from the lower compartment into the upper compartment but normally ineffective to pass steam or air from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, means for introducing water to be heated and deaerated into the upper compartment, means for discharging air from the upper compartment, a water outlet from the lower compartment means including a main steam supply connection to' the lower compartment for therein scrubbing the water with the major portion of the steam supplied to the apparatus, means for subjecting the water while in the upper compartment to the scrubbing action of the steam entering the upper compartment from the lower compartment, and means including a separate steam supply connection for subjecting the water to a local steam jet action as the water passes from the upper compartment into the lower compartment.

Signed at Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania this sixteenth day of December A. D. 1921.

GEORGE H. GIBSON 

